Vending machine



1964 D. LUPOVICI 3,162,287

VENDING MACHINE Filed May 29, 1963 INVENTOR Dal/I'd IUPUV/(l PAR (DNULAGENT United States Patent 3,162,287 VENDING MACHINE David Lupoviei,7482 Spring Road, Cote St. Luc, Quebec, Canada Filed May 29, 1963, Ser.No. 284,157 1 Claim. (Cl. 194-85) The present invention relates to avending machine and, more particularly, to a coin-operated machine fordispensing discrete articles in solid state.

The main object of the present invention resides in the provision of avending machine of the character described, embodying amanually-operated coin-controlled ejecting mechanism of improved, verysimple, and yet fool-proof construction, whereby an article will bedispensed from the machine only upon insertion of a coin of the properdenomination, and only one article will be dispensed for each coininsertion.

Another object of the present invention resides in the provision of avending machine of the character described, which is of very compact andsimple construction and which enables to dispense articles of differentcompositions or brands by embodying a very simple selector mechanism.

Another object of the present invention resides in the provision of avending machine of the character described, in which articles of any oneof a plurality of brands or compositions can be ejected by using asingle and common coin-controlled ejector mechanism.

Another object of the present invention resides in the provision of amachine of the character described, in

which means are provided for preventing dispensing of an article bytilting or shaking the machine.

The foregoing and other objects of the present invention will becomemore apparent during the following disclosure and by referring to thedrawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a sectional elevation of the machine;

FIGURE 2 is a plan section;

FIGURE 3 is a partial vertical section on an enlarged scale taken alonglines 33 of FIGURE 2; and

FIGURE 4 is a plan section on an enlarged scale of part of the elementsshown in FIGURE 2.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings in which like referencecharacters indicate like elements throughout, the vending machine of thepresent invention comprises a circular base 1 supporting a cylindricalwall 2, in turn supporting a top circular wall 3. Top wall 3 is fixedlysecured to the cylindrical wall 2 and defines therewith and with thebase 1 a compartment for the coincontrolled ejecting mechanism of themachine.

A rotor 5, consisting of top and bottom flanged discs 6 and 7respectively and of a plurality of circularly disposed uprightchannel-shaped compartments 9 secured to discs 6 and 7, is supported forrotation about a vertical axis by means of a ball bearing arrangement,shown at 8, disposed between bottom disc 7 and the top wall 3, andconsisting of two plates secured to said disc 7 and wall3 and definingtherebetween a circular ball race. This thrust bearing arrangement is ofknown construction.

Each compartment 9 serves to carry a plurality of stacked packages orarticles A to be dispensed from the machine; each stack may consist ofarticles A of a different brand or composition. These articles A arevisible through a cylindrical screen 10, which also prevents pilferingof the articles A. Screen 10 is secured to the peripheral edge of topwall 3 and supports in turn a top 3,162,287 Patented Dec. 22, 1964 cover11 over the rotor 5, said top cover being provided with a channel-shapedring 12, to which the top edge of the screen 10 is removably securedsuch that the cover 11 may be removed for refilling the compartments 9.

The rotor 5 may be rotated with respect to the base 1, wall 2, top wall3, screen 10, and top cover 11 by means of an upright rod 13 welded atits lower end to the top flanged disc 6 at the center of the latter andprotruding through top cover 11. This rod is provided with laterallyprotruding ornamental arms, not shown, over the top cover 11 tofacilitate rotation of the rotor 5, so as to bring any one of thecompartments 9 in vertical alignment with an article discharge chute 14protruding from and secured to the screen 10 at the level of thelowermost article A of the selected stack of articles, as shown inFIGURE 1.

A tube 15 is secured to top wall 3 and extends through the same and itsupper end carries a spring-loaded ball 15' engageable with any one ofdepressions 16 made in the bottom flanged disc 7 opposite eachcompartment 9. Thus, the spring-loaded ball arrangement resilientlymaintains the rotor 5 in a properly adjusted angular position, such thatthe selected compartment 9 is maintained in vertical alignment with thedischarge chute 14; for the ejection of the lowermost article A of theselected stack through the chute 14.

The coin-controlled ejecting mechanism for ejecting the lowermostarticle A of the selected stack through chute 14 is located within thecompartment disposed underneath top wall 3, and comprises the followingelements: 1

An operating lever 17 has its outer end protruding through a slot 17',made in the side wall 2 of the machine, and its inner end pivotallyconnected at 18 to the intermediate portion of a motion-transmittinglever 19, said lever 19 having an upwardly inclined end portion 20 andhaving its free inner end provided with an elongated slot 21 for pivotaland sliding connection to one end of a plunger 22 by means of a pin 23.

The plunger 22 consists of a straight rod slidably guided within asleeve 24 carried by a bracket 24' secured to a base plate 25, which isin turn fixed in horizontal position on base 1. The pivot 18, serving asa pivotal connection for the two levers 17 and 19, is secured to thebase plate 25.

The plunger 22 is arranged for reciprocating movement within sleeve 24for extending through a hole 26 made in the top cover 3 in alignmentwith the lowermost article A of the selected stack of articles and,thus, in alignment with the discharge opening 14. Therefore, movement ofplunger 22 will push lowermost article A in accordance with arrow 38,shown in FIGURE 1, to discharge said article through chute 14.

Both levers 17 and 19 are in partially overlapping position and theiroverlapping portions are each provided with a longitudinally extendedelongated slit 27 and 28 respectively for receiving a coin C inedge-wise position, as shown in FIGURE 3.

Slits 27 and 28 are in register when the two levers 17 and 19 are inalignment.

A coin chute 29 is secured to the base plate 25 by means of bracket 29and spacedly disposed above plate 25 above the path of the levers 17 and19. Chute 29 comprises two spaced parallel walls joined together attheir inner ends and along their top and bottom edges, and verticallydisposed to form a passage for the insertion of a coin C in edgewiseposition. Said coin chute has an inas follows:

let at the outside of cylindrical wall 2 and an outlet defined by abottom opening at the inner end and by a notch 13 made in one side wallimmediately above the slits 27 and 28 of levers 17 and 19 in theretracted position of said levers.

The channel is downwardly inclined towards the notch 30 from the-u'nletopening thereof.

Referring to FIGURE 4, the retracted position of the two levers 17 and19 is shown in dot anddash lines and the ejection position of said twolevers is shown in full lines. The retracted position of the two; leversis also shown in FIGURES 2 a11d3. The dash-and-dot-line position of part20 of lever 19,sown in FIGURE-3, corresponds to the'ejecting position ofsaid: lever '19.

The top face of the base plate is provided, with a 1'5 transverselycurved notch or recess 31 defining a sho'ul-,

der 32 and disposed underneath the slits 27 and'28 in the retractedpositions of the two levers.

Furthermore, 7

said top face is provided with a deeper transversely curved notch 33defining with notch 31 a second shoulder 34,

which is disposed intermediate the first shoulder 32 and a, coindischarge opening 35 made through plate 25,"said normally locked inposition.; l 1 v A tension coil spring 37 is'attached at one end .to

lever 17 and at the other end to base l'and ur'ges said lever 17 into aretracted bracket 29'.

position, in whichit abuts against opening 35 being in communicationwith a coin receiving 5 e box 35, throughan aperture made in base 1,said money 1 box 36 being removably secured" underneath base 1 and 12 5A lug 39 protruding downwardly from the outer side t edgeof lever 17 isadapted to abut against the notched outer side edge of lever 19 andserves to return lever 19 into retracted position under the action ofspring 37. A lug 4t}, upstanding from the outer edge of base. plate 25,

serves to limit. the'ejecting movement of the two levers by abutting lug39. A coil spring 42 is secured to top wall 3 and extends upwardly inthe discharge path of; I

the lowermost article A of the selected stack to prevent 0 inventionoperates discharge by tilting or shaking the machine.

The vending. machine of the present Whenthere is no coin inserted andlever 17 is operated in the direction arrow 41inits forward stroke, saidlever simply pivotsfreely about within. s'1 its,27 amid- 2s 33 and,therefore, the forward stroke must be continued for full ejection andfor the discharge of the coin into the coin'box, because'coin C preventsreturn of levers 17 and "19 into their retracted position, by abuttingshoulder 34. p

This arrangement positively prevents, the discharge; of

more than one article A for each coin insertion.

.. As previously explained, anyone of the severalstacks of articles Acan be rotated into vertical alignment with the plunger 22 and dischargechute 14 by simply rotating a suitable 'crank device secured to rod 13.Thus, the ejection mechanism of the invention is common to all of theseveral stacks 'of articlesA.

Articles A may consist of any type of stackable packagesandmay be,-fo rinstance, packages-of concentrated powdered food products, such asinstant coffee, tea, soup, or the like,;which'is adapted to' be mixedwith hot water. Therefore,:the vending machine of the present inventionis more particularly adapted tot be used in conjunction 'with'a hotwater dispenser of the type described and claimed in a co-pendingapplication by the same inventor.

, for holding a plurality of stacks-of solid state articles to bedispensed, adjusted rotation "of said rotor moving a selected stack .invertical alignment with said discharge 'chute and with the lowermostarticle of said selected stack at a discharge station opposite saiddischarge chute, a base plate secured within said casing at a levelbelow Jsaid rotor, ajguide sleeve secured to said base plate, axiallyaligned" with said discharge chute and said discharge station inwardlyof the latter, a horizontally displaceable plunger= slidably insertedwithin and guided by said sleeve, and coin controlled. means to move'said plunger between i v a retracted-position inwhich its, free end isspaced from pivot pin 18 and lever 19 remains stationary; When a i coinof the 1 proper denomination isinsertedthrough chute 29, said coin Crolls under gravity and drops a through the chute outlet of the coinchute directly into the registeringslits 27 and 28'of the levers 17 and19 in the retracted position of'said levers, as shown in FIGQ I DRE 3.The coin C rests'in'the notch 31 of base plate 25 adjacentshoulder 32.Thus, the coin effects a niechanical connection between the two levers17 and 19 and, upon pushing lever 7 in the direction of arrow 41,

a forward operating stroke is effected both by lever 17 and lever 19,which thus operates the plungerZZ. to eject an article A through articledischarge chute "14.

During the operating forward stroke ofthe two levers,

the coin C, whichstraddles the two levers, leaves the chute 29 throughside notch 30 and is transferred from said lowermost, article at said;discharge station. andan ejecting position in which-its free end extendsacross said discharge station, said means including said base plate,said base plate havingacoin discharge opening made therethrough, a; coin.box carried by said casing underneath said base plate. and in registerwith. said coin discharge opening, .acoin chute secured .to said baseplate above the latter and having an inlet opening, at the exterior ofsaid casing below said rotor and an outlet spacedabove base :plate andlaterally offset fromthe discharge opening of .said base plate ya.movement transmission lever and an -,operatingle ver arranged inpartially overlappin'gjposition and 'both pivotallyyconnected one to theother and to a 'said base plate and having their overlapping portionsthe position shown in FIGURE 3-to position opposite, 1

discharge. opening 35 made in base plate 25 and, there- ,fore, the coindrops through said opening into the coin box 36.

Upon release of lever positionunder the action of spring 37 and alsopivots back the lever 19 into its retracted position, due to the factthat lug 39 engages said lever 19. However,.lug

39 allows free forward movement of lever 17 with respect to lever'19.

17, it is returned to its retracteddisposed at a level between said coinchute outlet and said base plate, one endrof-said operating leverprotruding outwardly from said casing, one end portion of saidtransmission lever having an elongated slot, said plunger having a pinengaging said slot and formingv therewith a pivotal and slidingconnectionfbetween said transmission lever and plunger, the overlappingportions of said levers eachi provided'with a coin receiving-slit, saidslits being in register with each other when said levers are in align- Iment, said levers when'in alignment and 'in the retracted It will benoted that during transfer of the coin into 7 the discharge opening 35,the coin C, once it has passed shoulder 34, immediately drops into thedeeper. recess position of Isaid'plunger, having their slitsin registerwith the outlet of said coin chute, said levers when in alignmentand-in-the ejecting position of said plunger, having their slits inregister withthe coin discharge opening of said base plate, said' leversmovable duringan "operating stroke between a retracted position and anejecting position, and, vice versa during areturnstroke,

5 6 spring means connecting said operating lever to said cas- ReferencesCited by the Examiner ing and urging said operating lever into retractedposition, UNITED STATES PATENTS and abutment means carried by saldoperating lever and engageable with said transmission lever only uponreturn 371,257 10/87 Even 194 87 stroke of said operating lever toreturn said transmission 5 888,291 5/08 W 19488 lever to its retractedposition and resilient abutment means 1,256,181 2/18 Smith 19485 Securedto said casing in the ejection path of the lower- ,765, 59 6/30 Cadwell19485 most article at said discharge station to prevent discharge1,991,736 2/35 Epstein 194-85 of said lowermost article through saiddischarge chute by tilting or shaking of the machine. 10 SAMUEL F.COLEMAN, Primary Examiner.

